OTTAWA — The federal Liberals are getting started on repealing some of the previous government's sweeping — and controversial — changes to how people get or lose Canadian citizenship.

But the Liberal plan promises to be controversial in its own right, since it would, if passed, restore the Canadian citizenship of Zakaria Amara — sentenced in 2010 for his role as a member of the so-called Toronto 18.

Immigration Minister John McCallum introduced a new bill Thursday that, if passed, would remove terrorism or other crimes against the national interest as grounds for revoking citizenship from dual nationals.

Immigration Minister John McCallum speaks at a press conference in Ottawa. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

The legislation would also restore citizenship to anyone who has been affected by those provisions; Amara is the only person in Canada to have had his Canadian citizenship revoked under the Conservative law.

Amara, believed to be the ringleader of the group, was sentenced in 2010 to life in prison with no chance of parole until 2016 after admitting he was involved in the plot to attack targets in Toronto.

"Canadian citizens are equal under the law," McCallum said in a statement. "Whether they were born in Canada or were naturalized in Canada or hold dual citizenship."

The bill also shortens the length of time someone must be physically present in Canada before qualifying for citizenship, and allows time already spent as permanent residents to count towards the residency requirement.

The Conservatives had also expanded who needs to pass language and knowledge tests before qualifying for citizenship; the Liberals are returning to the previous age requirement of 18 to 54.

"Canadian citizens are equal under the law."

But the bill also makes some new changes, including adding those serving conditional sentences as people barred from seeking citizenship.

None of the changes would take affect until the bill becomes law and coming-into-force provisions are established.

When the Conservatives introduced the new law in 2014, it led to accusations that they were creating two classes of citizens, but they argued the move was in keeping with laws in other countries.

Citizenship can still be removed from those who've obtained it via fraudulent means or misrepresentation.

In an email to The Canadian Press ahead of the announcement, former Conservative immigration minister Chris Alexander said the changes his government made were in keeping with Canadian values.

"Terrorism, espionage and treason are serious crimes, representing gross acts of disloyalty. They are far more serious violations than covering up minor crimes from one's past — a common form of misrepresentation," he said.

The Conservative bill was attacked as setting a dangerous precedent and even challenged, unsuccessfully, as unconstitutional.

When the bill was rolled out, there was particular concern in ethnic communities that, over time, the criteria to revoke citizenship would expand to include convictions for lesser crimes.

The current law also has a provision that requires people to declare they intend to continue residing in Canada if granted citizenship. That raised concerns among some new Canadians that they could lose their citizenship if they moved outside of Canada. The new law would repeal this provision.

Attacking the bill was a key element of the Liberal election strategy in heavily diverse ridings, and they promised to overhaul the law during the campaign.

In 2014, the latest year for which full figures were available, 262,600 people were granted Canadian citizenship.

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Harper's Legacy: Top Achievements, Failures, According To Poll

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The Angus Reid Institute polled 1,412 Canadians between Oct. 26 and 28, 2015 on the legacy of outgoing prime minister Stephen Harper. The poll had a margin of error of 2.6 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
Respondents were given a list of actions taken by Harper's government between 2006 and 2015, and asked to choose its biggest accomplishments and failures. A detailed list of actions can be found online.
Here are the results...

Harper's Notable Achievements
NOTE: The second-most popular choice was "none of these."

One in three — 36 per cent — chose this as the Harper government's top achievement.
(Harper stands in front of TVs displaying a 5% GST during a campaign stop in 2005).

Almost one-quarter — or 24 per cent — highlighted this action as a key achievement.
(Harper poses with then-finance minister Joe Oliver as he arrives to table the 2015 federal budget).

13 per cent chose this action as a notable achievement.
(Harper gives then-Assembly of First Nations chief Phil Fontaine a standing ovation as he responds to the official apology for residential school abuses in 2008).

12 per cent chose this action as a key achievement.
(Harper greets European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in 2013).

Nine (9) per cent chose this action as a key achievement.
(Harper drives an ATV across the tundra on Baffin Island, near York Sound, Nunavut).

UP NEXT: Harper's Notable Failures

27 per cent chose this action as the Harper government's most notable failure.
(A Canada goose stands on railway tracks as a plant operates in the background in Hamilton, Ont.)

26 per cent of respondents said this action was a failure.
(A protester in a Grim Reaper costume protests cuts to science policies during a 2012 rally on Parliament Hill).

20 per cent chose this action as a key failure.
(A protester demonstrates against C-51 at a March, 2015 rally in Montreal.)

16 per cent said the combat mission against ISIS was a failure, while 14 per cent said the same of the mission in Afghanistan.
(Harper and then-defence minister Peter MacKay look out from a bunker at an operating base in the district of Sperwan Ghar, Afghanistan in 2011.)

13 per cent chose this as a key failure.
(Harper holds up a pile of money during a 2015 campaign event).

UP NEXT: Defeated Tory Cabinet Ministers

Though Stephen Harper was re-elected in his Calgary riding in the 2015 federal election, many members of his cabinet went down in defeat.
Here are some key figures from Harper's inner circle who will not be returning to Ottawa...

Cabinet position: Minister of state for multiculturalism
Riding: Edmonton—Sherwood Park
First elected: 2008
Uppal also previously served as minister of state for democratic reform.

Cabinet position: Minister of state for science and technology
Riding: London West
First elected: 2008

Cabinet position: Chief government whip
Riding: Vancouver Island North
First elected: 2008 (though he also served as an MP from 1993 to 2006).
Duncan previously served as minister of aboriginal affairs.

UP NEXT: Defeated NDP incumbents

In the 2015 federal election, Thomas Mulcair's New Democrats fell from 95 seats to 44. And several high-profile incumbents from across the country were defeated, usually to Liberal candidates.
Here are a few key names that will not be returning to Ottawa...

First elected: 2006
Riding: Ottawa Centre
Shadow cabinet role: Foreign affairs
Dewar also ran for the leadership of the party in 2012.

First elected: 1997
Riding: Sackville—Eastern Shore (N.S.)
Shadow cabinet role: Veterans affairs
Stoffer was named Maclean's magazines Parliamentarian of the year in 2013 and frequently won the most congenial MP award.

First elected: 2008
Riding: St. John's East
Shadow cabinet role: National defence
Harris was also the longtime leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party.

First elected: 2011 (though she served from 2004-2006 as a Liberal MP)
Riding: Gatineau
Shadow cabinet role: Justice

First elected: 2011
Riding: Halifax Atlantic
Shadow cabinet role: Fisheries, deputy employment insurance
Chisholm served as leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party and ran for the federal leadership in 2012.